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Diotimos Library · Esotericism & Spirituality Collection · Bilingual Edition

Attributed to Abraham the Jew

The Manly Hall Manuscript Collection, Volume I

Book of Hieroglyphic Figures

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The Manly Hall Manuscript Collection, Volume IThe Incarnation and the Birth of the Stone · Manuscript 84v · Scan 198

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French Page · Branch 191 of 351

The Incarnation and the Birth of the Stone · Manuscript 84v · Scan 198

French

Ms. 84v

certaine imitation entonnent et expriment toute la vérité qu’ils nous découvrent par le moyen du feu, nous découvrant tout ce qui est caché lorsque la théorie nous ouvre le chemin et lorsque la raison et le jugement surviennent, nous voyons vivement tout ce qui est au-dessus de la nature et caché même jusque dans la [ruelle ?] de la même manière que les objets présentés devant un miroir renvoient fidèlement à nos yeux leurs images et leurs espèces. Après donc avoir dissipé les ombres qui obscurcissent la vérité dans cette table, qui empêche qu’elle ne se présente devant nous ? La fable nous représente la pucelle Hésione prête à être dévorée par un monstre marin que Persée délivre après avoir tué ce dragon. Ici nous voyons les premiers principes de la nature, non pas crus et sans préparation comme dans les premières tables, mais travaillés selon l’art industrieusement et formés en Mercure ou soufre blanc de nature. Par Mercure nous entendons cet ancien et horrible dragon à sept têtes qui sort non pas du sein de la mer, mais de la flamme sans être blessé, car les anciens prétendent

Ms. 84v

The Manly Hall Manuscript Collection, Volume I: The Incarnation and the Birth of the Stone

Ms. 84v

certain imitation, proclaim and express all the truth they disclose to us through fire, revealing everything hidden. When theory opens the way, and reason and judgment intervene, we see vividly everything above nature and concealed even within the [inner chamber?], just as objects placed before a mirror faithfully return their images and appearances to our eyes. Once we have dispelled the shadows obscuring the truth in this table, what prevents it from presenting itself before us? The fable represents the maiden Hesione ready to be devoured by a sea monster, whom Perseus delivers after killing the dragon. Here we see nature’s first principles, no longer raw and unprepared as in the first tables, but skillfully worked according to art and formed into Mercury, or nature’s white sulfur. By Mercury we understand that ancient, horrible, seven-headed dragon emerging unharmed from flame rather than from the sea’s bosom; for the ancients maintain

Ms. 84v

About This Reading Edition

The first manuscript in the Manly Palmer Hall collection at the Getty Research Institute: the Book of Hieroglyphic Figures, presented in French and English with 463 explanatory notes, 13 manuscript plates, 25 source details, an introduction, chapter outline, glossary, bibliography, and register of readings.

Historical Text and Translation

Book of Hieroglyphic Figures (Livre des figures hiéroglyphiques), attributed in the witness to Abraham the Jew. Getty Research Institute, Manly Palmer Hall collection of alchemical manuscripts, accession 950053, Box 1, Hogart manuscript 3; French witness catalogued circa 1800. Manly Palmer Hall is the collector, not the author.

About Diotimos Editions

This historical edition credits Diotimos Editions as its English translator.

Rights

The circa 1800 source manuscript is public domain. The supplied 2026 French reading transcription, English translation, introduction, notes, outline, glossary, register, and editorial arrangement are published with the site owner’s authorization. Source photographs are credited to the Getty Research Institute and Internet Archive in the supplied edition.